4

7.45pm

Scully was seated upon her sofa, cuddled against the love of her life. She still found it amazing that, after everything that she had been through, she was so committed to this relationship. Nothing could break the way she felt, absolutely nothing. It was as if this was meant to be, a love like no other. She loved Mulder but his love was something she could live without, in fact she had.

Every day she looked into the oceanic blue eyes and knew this was the love she had waited her whole life for. A smile crept across her lips as she discussed her day's events, although deleting her 'illness' so not to cause alarm. It wasn't essential to divulge that information, it was essential to have this time for them. A hug and the sharing of incidents had become nothing short of a daily ritual. If it didn't happen then something was wrong, seriously wrong.

Gentle fingers swirled Scully's red hair into ringlets whilst the conversation evolved. Scully let her own hands run through her loves own hair, creating trails where they had been. She loved the silky feel of the hair it was like touching soft velvet. There was nothing in comparison. The days event seemed to dissolve as if it were a million miles from where she was, and at that moment, it was. Nothing mattered but the togetherness she felt right then. Nothing not even Mulder, with whom she had shared a considerable part of her life, mattered but those precious moments.

"I love you sweetie." Scully said, surprising herself as she said it. It was very rare occasion that made her say 'sweetie' but today it seemed right.

"I love you too." came the reply. It sounded just as heart-felt as the first time those words had been spoken.

For the past five years all Scully had thought about was her new love, her considerations lay here and the consequences of her actions now interacted within this new relationship. Slowly she had begun to let go of her love for Mulder at least she thought she had. The feelings she had for him were being broken down, dissolving, before her own eyes and she was grateful for that. Missing every moment of his company was too much to bear and now the FBI had sliced through the scab that was mid-way through the healing process. How she hated that, she was angry but at the same time she wanted to know what was going on. She needed to know if only to get closure from her relationship with Mulder. It was all she needed, for him to tell her why he'd abandoned her. He may have written his reasons in the numerous e-mails that he had sent her over the years but she had refused to answer them, eventually steeling herself never to enter the Internet café again. The hurt was just too fresh and bore deep into her soul every time she read his words.

That was until Monica had softly asked her to go back, to go back to the place where she had long ago promised never to return. How could she bear the hurt that pumped through every beat of her heart? Perhaps having Monica there for support had helped but Scully had relished every second of the experience. She couldn't believe the message he had sent her 'I'm sorry.' What was that meant to mean? Sorry for everything he had put her through? Sorry for abandoning her? Sorry for loving her? Sorry for not loving her?

The thoughts had rollercoastered through her mind at a thousand miles an hour. It was why it had been so hard to concentrate during her lecture and she had been so sure she would be strong enough to deal with any e-mail from Mulder. Scully knew why she had reacted badly. If he'd written her a poem, a long drawn out letter or an essay she would have understood why, she would have received some sort of explanation. He hadn't, two short words, three short syllables.

Watching the scene, using his alien technology, the Leader of the 'new generation' Super Soldiers leant his head to the side, 'how curious' he thought. He was determined to understand what he had discovered about Dana Scully even if it meant tearing apart the little scene he saw. They had no need for strategically positioned cameras the new technology that #23 had invented permitted sight through all walls there was nothing unobtainable to their eyes. He was now #1, it had taken many years of perfect infiltration into the human world, of creating a public persona where he gained everyone's trust and, if warranted, had replica's replace disobedient humans. He could do that, he had the control but for now his human minions surrounded him. Being the Australian Ambassador had its perks. The humans had respect for him, a desire to please and 'indulged' his little sight seeing tours! That was what he was doing now 'sight-seeing' in a suburban area that was considered a desirable area, almost picturesque.

Watching Dana Scully was interesting, there was a juxtaposition of Scully's, she had several personas, as did most humans. At work she was a strict, direct professional whilst at home she was a relaxed, care free individual who let her guard down in order to be happy. Her facial expression just before the kiss she received told him a million truths. She had made it possible. She was the key. She had to be…